My Team My Parramatta: Eels mix it with the people

ON-FIELD statistics are vital for any NRL club. For the Parramatta Eels there's one off-field number that's just as impressive — 652, the number of hours players worked in the community since November.

The blue-and-gold have set the benchmark in community engagement with many initiatives to interact with the fans.

Including:

■Blue and Gold Blitz: Seven days that saw Eels players and staff engage with more than 40,000 people to promote good nutrition and anti-bullying.

■Visiting an unprecedented 65 schools in western Sydney to spread the NRL One Community's Tackle Bullying message to more than 22,000 children.

Leading from the front on and off the field is co-captain Tim Mannah who spent 33 hours having a positive influence in the community

Parramatta Eels chief executive Scott Seward said giving back to the community was a priority for the club. "We're a club that believes in giving back to a community that's supported us for over 65 years," he said.

"Our players understand that and under head coach Brad Arthur embrace the responsibility of being a positive influence to those who look up to them."